Electric iron bracket



ELECTRIC IRON BRACKET Filed June 17, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. (/0617 D- Df'y J. D. DRY

ELECTRIC IRQN BRACKET March 24, 1959 Filed June 17,v 1958 3 -SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. duh/z l7. Dry

AGENT March 24, 1959 J. D. DRY. 2,879,021

ELECTRIC IRON BRACKET Filed June' 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Job 7 l7. flr'y AGENT ELECTRIC IRON BRACKET John D. Dry, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor of one-half to William S. Mahler, Monroe, Conn.

Application June 17, 1958, Serial No. 742,669

19 Claims. (Cl. 248-1171) This invention relates to holders for electric irons such as steam or dry irons normally usedin the home,,and

2,879,021 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 "ice 7 2 be economically manufactured by mass production methods.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel sheet metal electric iron holder having supporting shoulder means on its lower portion which means is sufliciently strong to support an iron yet readily bendable to different adjusted positions, thereby-to enmore particularly to wall brackets or holders for such irons.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved wall bracket or holder for electric irons such as steam flat irons, dry flat irons and the like, which bracket will securely and reliably hold and support the fiat iron on a wall or vertical surface for storage purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wall bracket for electric flat irons, which is adaptable for use with virtually all existing types of irons currently on the market.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flat iron wall bracket as above characterized, which is extremely safe in its use, even when supporting or holding a heated iron the use of which has just been completed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved wall bracket for electric irons, which has provision for neatly, easily storing the electric cord of such irons.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved, reliable and effective electric-iron wall bracket as above set forth, which is of extremely simple construction, and is economical to fabricate and manufacture.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved electric iron holder in accordance with the foregoing, which is extremely easy to use, and is so constituted that the electric iron may be placed thereon by a simple and natural movement on the part of the user.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electric iron holder which has simplified and unique means for engaging and retaining the toe portion of the sole plate having the button slots, so that in conjunction with a bracket provided for the heel portion of the iron there is effected a very reliable storage device which is at the same time simple and eco nomical to fabricate.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of simplified and advantageous gripping means 'for engaging the button slots at the toe of an electric iron sole plate, which means is simple and practical, reliable in its operation and not likely to produce scratches or otherwise mar the surface of the sole plate.

An additional feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel, sheet metal electric iron holder which has generally the shape of conventional sole plates, said holder being characterized by simplified and effective means constituting spacing feet, by which heat will i be rapidly dissipated so as to provide the utmost safety when a heated iron is being stored.

A further object of the invention is'to provide an improved electric iron holder which is constituted virtually able electric irons of different sizes to be accommodated.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel and simplified hook means on the lower portion of a sheet-metal electric-iron holder, which means is constituted of lanced fingers struck from the sheet metal base member, thereby to further simplify the construction of the holder and reduce manufacturing and assembly costs. 1

Other features include the constituting of the jaw means on the upper portion of the holder in the form of integral lanced tabs, the providing of integral spacing feet along the peripheral portions of the base member, and the provision of relatively narrow peripheral flanges along opposite sides of the base member to reinforce and strengthen the same. t

Other features and advantages will hereinafter. appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate corresponding parts through the several views, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of an improved electric iron holder made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the holder illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of an electric iron holder illustrating a modification of the invention wherein a different type of base is provided, and different buttonslot engaging and gripping means. I

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the holder illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a different kind of button-slot gripping means, illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing still another type of button-slot engaging and gripping means as provided by the invention for holding the toe portion of the sole plate in storage position on the base of theholder. q

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of anelectric iron holder constituting another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view ofthe electric holder shown in Fig. 8.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved electric iron holder shown therein, as provided by the invention,

comprises a generally rectangular, relatively thick base 10 adapted to be mounted on a wall, as by securement to a support attached to the wall. For this purpose, the base 10 may be provided with suitable attachment means, as for example a screw eye 11, secured to the center of the top edge portion of the base. The base 10 may be constituted of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, wood or the like. Where the base 10 is to be made of a substance such as wood or thermoplastic composition which is not especially resistant to heat, a heat-resistant facing may be provided on its front surface, such as a sheet of asbestos paper 12 as illustrated in the figures,

having a finished surface 12a. The asbestos sheet 12 may i e) surface of the base 10 for the purpose of storing the iron. My improved means is adaptable for use with virtuallyall types of irons and is so constituted that it may take into account the various sizes even though dimensions differ greatly.

As shown, this means comprises essentially a supportingshoulder means 15 carried by the lower portion of the bas'e member 10 and adapted to engage the heel portion of a flat iron, to bear the weight of the iron and support the same, and in conjunction therewith a novel jaw means 16 mounted on the upper portion of the base member 10 and projecting forwardly therefrom for engagement with the, toevportion of the sole plate and particularly the button slots thereof which are disposed on opposite sides of the said toe portion. Thesupporting shoulder means 15 may be constituted in any suitable manner. As shown herein, it comprises a bracketpf angular shape, which may be ad'- vantag'eouslyform'ed of sheet metal; having a base or mounting portion 18 provided with a pair of vertically extending slots 19 adapted to receive screws 20 by which the bracket may be readily attached to the base member 10. The bracket 15 further comprises a forwardly extending portion 22 having an upturned foremost edge or flange 23. The forwardly extending portion or wall 22 is adapted to engage the heel part of the electric iron and the upwardly extended edge or flange 23 is adapted to overlie part of the heel portion of the iron to lock the same against the base member 10 and prevent its inadvertent removal therefrom.

Referring now to the novel jaw means 16 provided on the upper portion of the base member 10, this means is seen to be constituted of a sheet metal plate 26 having somewhat the shape of an inverted V, with depending legs 28 adapted to constitute a pair of opposed, slender jaws which are so arranged that they may enter and engage the button slots at the toe of the sole plate. Preferably the jaws 28 have rounded or curved inner edges 30 which may snugly fit into the said button slots when the sole plateis moved upward between the jaws and into the recess 31 between the same. The rounded edges 30 are preferably finished to remove all sharp corners and portions likely to cause scratching of the sole plate of the electric iron. As seen in Fig. 2, the plate 26 constituting the said novel jaw means is spaced from the base member 10 and more particularly from the asbestos sheet 12 provided thereon, by the use of spacing washers or bushings 32. For securing the jaw plate to the base member, suitable wood or machine screws, or rivets or the like may be utilized, as will be readily understood.

Further, in accordance with the. invention, at the lower most portion of the base member 10 I provide a simple means comprising twin, oppositely projecting hooks 34, about which the electric cord may be neatly wound to keep it from dangling when the electric iron has been sorted on the holder.

The operation of the improved iron holder as above set forth, is as follows: When it is desired to store the electric iron on the holder the toe or tip portion of the sole plate is first brought upward into engagement with the opposite jaws 30, the said tip being made to enter the recess 31 between the jaws. The jaws 30 Will readily enter the button slots at the toe of the sole plate due to their rounded and angular configuration and disposition. The heel portion of the electric iron is now swung backward over the lower supporting shoulder or bracket 15, thereby bringing the undersurface of the sole plate fully in engagement with the heat resistant sheet 12 on the base member. The electric iron is now allowed to movement, however, will not disengage the opposed jaws 30 from thetoe of the sole plate, nor will such jaws be able to release the toe portion because of the angular disposition of the jaws and the fact that an appreciable movement of the sole plate is required to cause such release. By the above operation the electric iron is securely supported on the base member 10. The electric cord may now be wound back and forth over the hooks 34, whereupon the iron will be completely held in place On the wall, presenting a neat and attractive appearance.

By the provision of the elongate slots 19 in the lower bracket or shoulder means 15, said bracket may be shifted upward or downward so as to enable the holder to accommodate and store electric irons in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown herein, the electric iron holder comprises a sheet metal base member 36 which may be advantageously formed to have a shape roughly the same as that of an electric iron sole plate. The base member 36 may be constituted of any suitable metal, such as aluminum, steel, brass or the like. With the base member 36 the need for a separate heat-resistant sheet or covering is obviated, and in accordance with the invention to provide for dissipation of heat when a heated iron is stored on the holder, the base member 36 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending or offset feet 37, 38, 39 and 40. Such feet may, for example, be sufliciently long to appreciably space the base member from the supporting wall. A length of inch or so would be suitable for this purpose. Preferably the feet 37-40 have angularly bent extremities or flanges as indicated at 42, said flanges being adapted for engagement with the wall surface on which the holder is secured.

As shown, the wall-engaging flanges of the uppermost and lowermost feet 39 and 40 are turned out and perforated, thereby to accommodate screws by which the base member 36 may be secured rigidly to the wall surface.

As With the previously described embodiment of the invention, a lower supporting means or bracket 15 is provided on the base member 36, said bracket having adjustment slots 19 and being secured in place by screws 20 for the purpose of adjusting the holder to different sizes of sole plates and electric irons. Also, at the lower portion of the base member 36 opposed hooks 34 are provided, about which the electric cord may be wound.

By the present invention, on the upper portion of the base member 36 I provide a simplified, novel and effective jaw means adapted to enter and engage the button slots at the toe of the sole plate. This jaw means comprises a pair of opposed jaws '44 of arcuate shape, said jaws being constituted of a single piece of heavy spring wire which is preferably formed to have generally the shape of the letter U, with depending legs 45 joined to each other by a straight yoke portion 46. The upper portion of the base member 36 is outwardly oifset, as by a drawing operation, and also pierced and lanced, providing a raised housing portion 47 which is joined to the base member 36 along three edges 48, 49, and 50.

The lower edge 51 of the raised portion 47 is free, as readily seen in Fig. 4. A lanced portion 52 is formed in the raised housing, and said lanced portion is curled around the yoke portion 46 of the wire jaw form, thereby to securely anchor the said wire form within the housing 47. Also, a pair of tabs 53 is provided, lanced from the housing portion 47, said tabs underlying the legs 45 of the wire form and maintaining the said form in a position raised above the surface of the base member 36.

It will be understood that by such construction the wire form which constitutes the jaw means is securely held in an operative spaced position on the base member 36, and that by virtue of their resilient nature the jaws 44 thereof may be spread apart under a spring action. When the toe portion of a sole plate is brought up between the jaws 44 the latter will enter the button slots of the toe portion and securely engage and hold the toe portion, thereby to retain the upper part of the electric iron against the base portion 36. The functioning of the lower shoulder means or bracket is the same as already described. Accordingly, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4,

. I have provided a simplified and effective, all-metal electriciron holder which is economical to fabricate, safe and reliable in use, convenient to place the iron on, and which presents an attractive overall appearance when the iron is mounted on it.

Another form of jaw means by which the toe portion of the sole plate of an electric iron may be gripped, is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 5. In these figures a pair of relatively flat washers 55 constitute the jaw means, said washers being secured in place by screws 56 and being spaced from the base member 36 by spacers or bushings 57. The openings in the washers 55 are somewhat larger than the shanks of the screws 56, and accordingly the washers are free for limited edgewise movement while still being held in place by the screws, in spaced relation to the base member 36. I further provide a wire spring 58, carried by the base member 36 through the medium of lanced, curled fingers 60, said wire spring being roughly in the shape of the letter U. The end portions 61 of the wire spring are bent angularly forward, whereby they engage the washers 55 and normally maintain the said washers in the lowered positions of Fig. 5, and also biased toward each other whereby a minimum space exists between them.

It will be understood that the toe portion of the sole plate of the electric iron is moved upward between the washers 55, whereby the latter will enter the button slots in the toe of the sole plate, thereby to securely hold the toe portion of the electric iron against the base member 36. 1

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein I provide a jaw plate 63 which isin many respects similar to the plate 22 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The jaw plate 63, however, has vertically extending slots 64 which accommodate the fastening screws 65 by which the jaw plate is secured to the base member 10. Thus, the jaw plate 63 may have limited vertical movement as provided by the slots 64. I further provide a wire spring 67, secured to the jaw plate 63 by means of a lanced tab 68 of said plate, the ends of the spring 67 being formed into eyes or loops through which the shanks of the screws 65 extend. The wire spring 67 is normally so arranged that it biases or urges the jaw plate 63 downward, and when the toe portion of the sole plate of an electric iron is engaged with the jaws or edges 70 of the jaw plate 63 the plate may shift upward against the action of the spring 67, and as the heel of the electric iron is brought to rest against the shoulder means 15 and the electric iron shifts downward slightly the jaw plate 63 will follow such movement, maintaining the jaw edges 70 in engagement with the button slots of the sole plate.

It will now be understood that with the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3-7 the novel jaw means which engages the button slots at the toe of the sole plate are movably mounted and enabled to follow the slight downward movement of the sole plate as the electric iron is rested against the supporting shoulder or bracket 15.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. This embodiment is characterized by an electric iron holder device which is constituted virtually entirely of a single piece of sheet metal. As shown, the base member 72 may be constituted of sheet steel, sheet aluminum or the like, and may have a pair of lanced tabs 73 which form the upper jaw means, said tabs being offset forwardly from the front surface 74 of the base member and having opposed rounded edges 75.

At its lower portion the base member 72 may have a supporting shoulder means in the form of an integral lanced tab 76 having a downturned flange 77 at its front edge. The tab 76 is preferably quite stiff and strong, so that it will readily support the weight of an electric iron, yet it is made to be readily bendable upon the application of sufficient pressure. Accordingly, the tab 76 may be initially bent or adjusted upward or downward in order to accommodate difierent sizes of electric irons.

An electric cord carrier is provided, constituted of a pair of lanced tabs or arms 78 struck from the lower portion of the base member 72, said arms being shaped in the manner of hooks and having protective sleeves 79 of soft or resilient rubber, whereby the sharp edges of the hooks are covered, thereby to prevent abrasion and cutting of the electric iron cord.

Along the peripheral portions of the base member 72 I provide relatively narrow flanges 81, 82 and 83, said flanges strengthening the peripheral or edge portions and providing the base member with a finished appearance. From the flanges 81, 82 and 83 the spacer legs 84 extend, as shown.

The construction of iron holder illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is seen to be extremely simple, and characterized by very few components whereby it may be readily mass produced at low cost.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A wall bracket for an electric flat iron, comprising a generally flat base member having means by which it may be attached to a support on a vertical wall; supporting shoulder means carried by the lower portion of the base member and adapted to engage the heel portion of a fiat iron, to bear the weight of and support the iron; and jaw means carried by the upper portion of the base member and projecting forwardly therefrom including a pair of opposed, slender jaws adapted to enter and engage the button slots at the toe of the sole plate of the electric iron, said jaw means in conjunction with the said supporting shoulder means holding and retaining the toe and heel portions of the electric iron in place whereby the iron is securely supported by the base member with the latter in engagement with the bottom of the electric iron sole plate.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there are means movably mounting the jaw means on the base member, for movement between raised and lowered positions, and in which there are means yieldably urging said jaw means downward to the said lowered position thereof.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which the said jaw means comprises a single member of sheet metal, disposed broadside to the said base member.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which the sheet metal member has roughly the shape of a V the legs of which at their inner portions have curved edges constituting the said jaws.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3, in which there is a bowed wire spring secured to the said single member of sheet metal, said wire spring constituting the means yieldably urging the jaw means downward.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the jaws comprise sheet metal plates each having a rounded, bulbous configuration.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the jaw means comprises a pair of flat circular washers mounted on and spaced from the said base member, and in which there are means mounting said washers for vertical movement between raised and lowered positions and spring means yieldably holding said washers in their lowered positions.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which there is means adjustably mounting the said supporting shoulder means on the base portion whereby said shoulder means may be raised or lowered to accommodate different sizes of electric irons.

eese-e1 7 a. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the said jaw means comprises a pair of wire jaws having rounded portions adapt'edto be received in the button slots at the toe of the sole plate, said jaws being constituted as a single piece of spring wire.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the base member is constituted of sheet metal and has a raised portion formed by drawing the sheet metal, and which there are lanced tabs securing the jaw means against the underside of the said raised portion.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the base member is constituted of sheet metal, and in which there are feet disposed along peripheral portions of the base member, for spacing the latter from the wall surface to which it is attached.

p 12. The invention as defined in claim 11, in which the means by which the base member is attached to the wall comprises flanges carried by the said feet.

13. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which the said jaw means comprises a pair of separate flat members of sheet metal, disposed broadside to the said base member.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, in which the said members constituting the jaw means comprise circular washers having curved peripheral portions constituting the said jaws.

15. A wall bracket for an electric fiat iron, comprising a generally fiat base member having means by which it may be attached to a support on a vertical wall; heatresistant means carried by said base member, adapted for engagement with the sole plate of a fiat iron to protect the base member from the heat of the sole plate; supporting shoulder means carried by the lower portion of the base member and adapted to engage the heel portion of a flat iron, to bear the weight of and support the iron; and jaw means carried by the upper portion of the base member and projecting forwardly therefrom, including a pair of opposed, slender jaws adapted to enter and engage the button slots at the toe of the sole plate of the electric iron, said jaw means in conjunction with the said supporting shoulder means holding and retaining the toe and heel portions of the electric iron in place whereby 8 the iron is securely supported by the base member with the heat resistant means thereof in engagement with the bottom of the electric iron sole plate.

16. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the base member is constituted of sheet metal, and in which the jaw means carried by the upper portion of the base member comprises integral tabs lanced from said member.

17. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the base member is constituted of sheet metal, and in which there are means carried by the lower portion of the base member, comprising hooks about which the electric cord of the iron may be wound, said hooks being lanced from and being integral with the base member.

18. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the base member is constituted of sheet metal, and in which the supporting shoulder means comprises a tab lanced from the base member and extending at an angle thereto, said tab being relatively stiff yet readily bendable in respouse to the application of sufficient force thereto, thereby to enable the tab to be disposed in dilferent vertical positions whereby ditlerent sizes of electric irons may be accommodated between the shoulder means and the said jaw means.

19. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the base member is constituted of sheet metal, and in which there are spacing feet disposed along the peripheral portions of the base member, for engagement with a wall surface to space the base member therefrom, said base member having relatively narrow peripheral flanges extending along its opposite edges, thereby to strengthen the said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,285,747 Smith Tune 9, 1942 2,493,424 Stanley Jan. 3, 1950 2,530,027 Perrigo Nov. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 79,343 Norway Nov. 12, 1951 

